Pepper’s final expenses

My name is Kenneth Fleming. Most people call me Santa. We are trying to raise    money to help our brother Joe “Ugly Joe” Young take care of the final expenses of his wife Diane “Pepper” Young. Pepper passed away unexpectedly in the wee         hours of March 12, 2021. She was fighting lymphoma among other health issues. 

Let me share what so many thought of Pepper. Pepper was either the mother to   all who called her friend or sister to very few that was lucky enough to to make it   to her circle. She was also Joe’s life, his love, and his rock. It is very rare to see the  love these two shared. They were truly life partners that were best friends and      soul mates. 

Pepper had a light that was warm and inviting. It was also fierce and piercing         when someone messed with her family. She and I met the day she married Joe. I      told her welcome to the family and said that I would always be there for her and   Joe. She always told me that stuck with her. We became more then friends that     very day. Our friendship blossomed into much more. She and my Daughter grew   such a bond that was very much like a second mother to Kyleigh, who Diane            called ‘Lil B’ which was short for my little beauty.

Diane was a magnet to others. She was always there for all no matter what they   needed. When Joe and Diane got married, they merged families. Joe’s daughter,  Ashley always said she was Mom never step. Family was extremely important to  Pepper, whether that was blood or the family she picked. Joe gave her the                 nicknamed Pepper after seeing how fiercely she protected family. They loved         riding together. When she started to get sick, she hated that she couldn’t ride       with Joe. Joe hated that his life, love and rock was getting sick. He felt helpless. I mention that because she always thought about others before herself.

She wanted to get on the Ellen Show as a special wish. I was going to try to help     her do this. She always did what she could for children with different fundraisers. I  found out she wanted to take me and share my story of being Santa because of    what I do. This floored me. She wanted to go to tell Ellen about me. She was truly      selfless.

She loved watching the hummingbirds in her back yard. To her, hummingbirds       were not just a bird. They were a symbol of ultimate freedom, like riding on the     back of Lucille with Joe. It was about moving fast but being in control enough to         know when to stay still.

Joe is a person who will drop everything to go help a friend or family member no matter the time of day or night. He doesn’t care how much physical pain he ends  up in after helping others. He doesn’t think about that,  he just sees someone in      trouble and does what he can, even if it’s more physical then he should commit to.

You see he and she always places others first. Now, they both are on disability and their income is very limited. I am asking folks to help him with those final                   expenses because he would never ask himself. The expenses will go to funeral        home expenses and medical bills. Thank you for taking time to read this. If you are able to donate, please do. If you, can not please keep Joe in your prayers as the      next few weeks without his life, his love, his rock, and everyone else’s Pepper will be tough to deal with.